Buying olive oil?

1. Buying olive oil step 1: identify the type of olive oil
   1. Olive oil
   2. Blended refined olive oil
   3. Pomace olive oil
   4. Olive oil not suitable for human consumption
2. What do you want to use the olive oil for?
3. Where does my olive oil come from?
4. How does olive oil production impact nature and the environment?
5. Ordering olive oil: what’s a fair price for good quality?
6. Extra virgin olive oil: tin or bottle?
   1. Buying olive oil in a tin?
   2. Prefer buying it in a bottle?
7. Conclusion: ordering olive oil

Did you know the olive oil market is currently under a lot of pressure? Over the past three years, production in Spain and Italy—traditionally the biggest producers—has been declining. Combined with rising costs in general, this has caused olive oil prices to soar. All the more reason to make a well-informed choice when buying olive oil and to make sure you’re getting what you pay for. We’re here to help you with a step-by-step guide!

Whether you’re browsing online, walking through the local supermarket, or checking out your favorite neighborhood shop, you’ll come across a whole range of olive oils. That’s why it’s important to understand what the label actually means.

 

There are four main types of olive oil: olive oil, blended refined olive oil, pomace olive oil, and non-edible olive oil. To make things even trickier, each of these categories can be further broken down. Below, we’ll give you a brief overview—but you can find a full deep-dive in types of olive oil.

This first type of olive oil refers to first cold pressed oils (extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, and regular olive oil), obtained solely through mechanical pressing that does not alter the chemical composition of the oil. The olives used for this olive oil may only be washed, centrifuged, and filtered; any other processing is not allowed.

 

The best type of olive oil is generally considered to be organic extra virgin olive oil, as its acidity does not exceed 0.8%. Additionally, the median score on the 12 olive oil defects must be 0, and the median score on fruitiness must be above 0. This results in a rich flavor and an olive oil that retains all its natural vitamins and minerals.

 

Please note: even within (organic) extra virgin olive oil, quality can vary. That depends on many factors, one of which is organic production. Curious about what makes an olive oil truly the best?

Refining means removing ‘impurities’ from the oil. This is done through a series of chemical and physical processes, but in doing so, the oil loses its flavor and aroma. This refined oil is then blended with other first-pressed olive oils to give it some taste and smell back, and to make it suitable for human consumption.

Lastly, there’s pomace olive oil. This oil is made from the fresh pulp left over after pressing the olives. It can be extracted naturally, resulting in a higher quality product than when done through a chemical process. We recently started offering pomace olive oil as well. Our pomace olive oil is naturally made from the fresh pulp that remains after pressing our extra virgin olive oil. A 100% pure and natural product — nothing from the original olive goes to waste! Want to learn more about whether pomace olive oil is healthy?

There are four categories of olive oil that are not intended for human consumption. This is because the production process results in oils that lack (pleasant) flavor and contain little to no nutritional value. These types are lampante olive oil, refined olive oil, crude pomace oil from naturally fallen olives, and pomace olive oil from fallen olives processed with hexane.

 

Want to know how to recognize the best olive oil? Check out this interview with our founder Floris, where he explains what makes a truly great olive oil! Now you know exactly how to read the label — and how to pick the best olive oil!

When do you choose which type of olive oil? That depends on what you want to do with the olive oil and how much value you place on it.

Let’s first look at (organic, extra virgin) olive oil. Do you want olive oil that preserves the most flavor? Or are you after olive oil with the most healthy nutrients? Organic, extra virgin olive oil is your best choice. By the way, this olive oil can be used both cold and warm, as you can heat it up to 207 degrees Celsius. A great addition to all your dishes for the connoisseur!

 

If you’re watching your budget and looking for olive oil that has less impact on your dish, then regular olive oil is the way to go. This olive oil has a higher acidity, fewer healthy nutrients, and more defects (less pronounced flavor), but you’ll see that reflected in the price. Olive oil is also the choice when you want to cook at very high temperatures (up to 225 degrees Celsius).

When do you choose extra virgin? When you want to be somewhere in between the two choices above. The quality is better than regular olive oil, but you’ll also pay a bit more for it.

What about pomace olive oil? This olive oil is perfect for baking and frying, as you can heat it up to 260°C. It also has a mild flavor, so it won’t overpower your dish.

When making a well-informed choice when buying olive oil, we believe it is extremely important to prefer olive oil where you know exactly where it comes from. That the producer honestly and transparently explains how the olive oil is produced and ultimately ends up on your table or in your kitchen. You make us happiest when you buy olive oil from a local farmer or from someone who imports it directly from the farmer, so you can be 100% sure of what’s in the olive oil (just like we do).

Don’t settle for the label ‘imported from.’ This only means the oil was blended there, while the actual origin could just as well be from another country. So double-check. The more you know about the product’s origin and the people behind it, the better. For example, don’t just rely on what’s printed on the packaging. Ask the company directly, talk to the people who work there, check if the brand has a website and is active on social media. When you do, you’ll discover a lot more about the brand and the product’s origin than what you see on the label. Keep this in mind when buying olive oil.

 

At Gkazas, we believe it’s very important to communicate clearly and engagingly through online channels who we are, what we do, and what we stand for. We share this, for example, in our online magazine.

t may not be the most obvious thing to consider when buying olive oil, but in our opinion, it’s incredibly important: what impact does the production of this product have on nature and the environment? You might not be able to uncover every detail of the production process, but there are several certifications that confirm whether a product has been organically produced. For example, SKAL Biocontrole and European legislation ensure proper oversight. To receive such certification, a brand or product must meet the following requirements:

 

• The product must contain at least 95% real organic ingredients
• The origin of the ingredients must be clearly traceable
• No chemical pesticides are used
• No artificial fertilizers are used

 

You can find a detailed information page on our organic olive oil here. Our extra virgin olive oil has several certifications for organic food.

Actually, this is a question that cannot be answered precisely, but it can be well substantiated. For example, you can already factor in that olive oil costing just a few euros cannot be of very high quality. So much love and care comes with a somewhat higher price tag. Take a look around first, and you will see that you generally won’t find extra virgin olive oil meeting the above requirements for less than €15 per liter.

The price of the product can also tell you something about its honesty. Of course, you’d love to get a good extra virgin olive oil for as cheap as possible. But when you’re realistic and think beyond just your wallet, you’ll realize that the price for a high-quality olive oil is simply a bit higher.

 

Producing high-quality olive oil is an expensive process, made possible by the love and hard work of the people involved. And at Gkazas, we believe that everyone who puts their heart and soul into creating something beautiful deserves a fair price. That includes our Cretan farmers, for example!

After going through the 5 steps, you’re almost there. Now the final question when buying olive oil: will you go for a bottle or a tin? Why does it matter? The most important factors that affect the shelf life of olive oil are light, air, and heat. Light breaks down the healthy nutrients in the oil, air can cause condensation inside the bottle or tin, and heat affects the flavor of your olive oil. Many quality brands – Gkazas included – take these factors into account in their packaging:

 

• Light: Our tins block out all light. Thanks to the handy pouring spout that you can press down after use, we keep light out completely. Our bottles are made of dark glass to reduce light exposure as much as possible.
• Air: Once you open a product, air will get in – but you can minimize the impact by closing the bottle or tin immediately after use. Gkazas Olive Oil has an airtight seal to help preserve quality longer.
• Temperature: We store our products in a dark room with a consistent temperature – not too warm, not too cold. Around 14–16°C is ideal.

 

Alright, clear. But now it’s your turn to decide: Will you go for an olive oil bottle or an olive oil tin?

In short: the choice between a glass olive oil bottle or a tin is mainly a personal preference. Some prefer pouring from a bottle, while others like to have a nice stock in a tin. Either way, you can now once again make a well-informed choice between a tin or a bottle when buying olive oil!

The world offers many possibilities when buying extra virgin olive oil. This can make the choice difficult sometimes, but by keeping the above guidelines in mind, you can make a well-informed decision when purchasing olive oil. Gkazas Olive Oil meets all these guidelines. Our extra virgin olive oil is organic and therefore offers many health benefits. In addition, it comes at a fair price both for the customer and for the people who work with heart and soul to produce the olive oil. That same production also relieves nature and the environment in every possible way. Finally, our products are available in both bottles and tins, so you can choose what you prefer.

 

A very good choice indeed! Would you like to try the olive oil? Then request a free tin of Gkazas Olive Oil now. Want to buy extra virgin olive oil? Take a look at our webshop.